About our car

My car is very dirty.

On the inside, it's relatively good. Considering the three kids and all. On the outside - not so much.

When we lived in Utah, my mother would periodically come to her wits' end and wash the dang thing for us. By golly.

Since we moved to Iowa - I have washed it once.

And, I consider that an accomplishment.

On Sunday's we used to park right next to the front door. Now that we have Church second, we park further back. Someone from the other ward parks in our spot.

They have a van like ours.

I said to Justin: "Look, it's us. We're still parked there."
Justin said to me: "Um, no. That car is clean."

He was right.

****

On Thursday, I had to pick Justin up from school at 8:15 pm. Busses were not running, and certainly not that late.

While our storm had come and gone, I've found that snow/ice removal is a little different here. As in, we plowed once, have fun while you wait for Spring.

I pulled off the road to pick up Justin, called him, and said: "We're here, but I make no guarantee that we can get out again."

And I was right.
We were stuck.

And so - I say - to the kind men - three of them - who put their hands to the back of my grubby, dirty car and pushed us out.

Thank you.
I'm sure you had to wash your hands a million times afterward.
But we really appreciate it.

****

Earlier that day, I also had to take Justin to school because the busses were not running.

We saw a man waiting at the bus stop, and offered him a ride.

Question: What is worse than sitting in negative 12 weather waiting for a bus that will not come?

Answer: Riding in the back of a dirty van with 3 children.

He did not take us up on our offer.
And consequently missed out on listening to GQ scream the whole way there.
Don't you feel his pain?